Angiuoni v. Town of Billerica

999 F. Supp. 2d 318, 2014 WL 494803, 198 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2416, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14517, 97 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 45,005
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedFebruary 5, 2014
DocketCivil Action No. 11-11661-NMG
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 999 F. Supp. 2d 318 (Angiuoni v. Town of Billerica) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Angiuoni v. Town of Billerica, 999 F. Supp. 2d 318, 2014 WL 494803, 198 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2416, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14517, 97 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 45,005 (D. Mass. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

GORTON, District Judge.

This case arose after plaintiff Joseph Angiuoni (“plaintiff’ or “Angiuoni”) was terminated from his position as a probationary officer with the Billerica Police Department., Plaintiff filed suit against the Town of Billerica (“the Town”) and its Chief of Police, Daniel Rosa (“Rosa”) (collectively, “defendants”). He alleges that defendants violated the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, 38 U.S.C. § 4311, by terminating him due to his status as a disabled military veteran and that Rosa subsequently interfered with his attempts to secure employment with other law enforcement agencies in violation of Massachusetts law.

The defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 52) was allowed, in part, and denied, in part, by a Court Order dated January 24, 2014, “with memorandum and order to follow.” The Court now publishes the subject memorandum and order.

I. Background

Plaintiff served in the United States Army Reserve from 2003 to 2008 and was honorably discharged with a back injury. In April, 2009, he began working as a full-time probationary patrol officer for the Billerica Police Department (“the Department”). Due to his injury, he was classified as a disabled veteran under the Massachusetts Civil Service Statute. That status would have entitled him to preference over all other police officers in the Department in the event of layoffs, regardless of seniority, had he been hired by the Department following his probationary period. M.G.L. c. 31, §§ 26, 34, 61.

As a probationary officer, plaintiff underwent a field training program during which he was supervised by several “field training officers”. It appears from the facts that plaintiff was most frequently supervised by Officer Moran (“Moran”), although he was assigned to accompany Sergeant Elmore (“Elmore”) later in his tenure with the Department.

The record indicates that plaintiffs training did not go well and that, on several occasions, he failed to follow proper police procedures. In June 2009, Lieutenant Opland (“Opland”), who oversees the field training program, extended plaintiffs training period beyond the usual eight weeks. The extension was based on input from Department members including Moran.

At about the time plaintiff was hired, Rosa notified Department personnel that there would be at least a 23% reduction in opportunities to work overtime and some members of the Department, including Moran, began to worry that there would be layoffs. Moran allegedly told plaintiff that it was unfair that plaintiff would potentially keep his job due to his impending [320]*320status as a disabled veteran police officer while Moran might be laid off.

In November, 2009, Rosa obtained written evaluations of plaintiff from Opland, Moran and Officer Magnan (“Magnan”). Moran’s statement was generally negative. Moran described several instances in which plaintiff had displayed incompetence or failed to follow proper procedures. Op-land’s report describes several of the same instances as Moran’s report but includes other mistakes made by plaintiff that were reported by Department members other than Moran. Magnan’s report was largely positive and noted that plaintiff had improved since joining the force. Plaintiff did not receive copies of any of the written evaluations until after he was terminated.

Rosa also discussed plaintiffs progress with Elmore and the Deputy Chief. Elmore reported that plaintiff had seized a legally-possessed “air soft gun” from an individual without following proper police procedures.

Rosa put plaintiff on administrative leave in early November, 2009. Union President Eidens was not invited to the meeting at which plaintiff was told that he would be placed on leave status and Rosa did not inform plaintiff that he had a right to be represented at that meeting. The Town held a formal hearing on the matter before terminating plaintiff, upon Rosa’s recommendation, on November 30, 2009.

After plaintiff was terminated, he applied for a position with several police departments but was not hired. Plaintiff alleges that 1) he was a finalist for a position with the New Hampshire State Police, 2) he was told that the hiring entity would contact his past employers and 3) he was thereafter not offered the job.

Plaintiff filed a Complaint against the Town in September, 2011 and amended his Complaint shortly thereafter to add claims against Rosa. Count I of the Amended Complaint (Docket No. 10) alleges that both defendants violated the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, 38 U.S.C. § 4311, in that they terminated plaintiff because of his status as a veteran. Count II alleges that Rosa, in his individual capacity, tortiously interfered with plaintiffs prospective business relations by knowingly providing false or negative opinions to other police departments in retaliation for plaintiffs refusal to resign from the Department. Count III seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.

Defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint in December, 2011, and the Court denied that motion in September, 2012. Defendants filed the instant dispositive motion in November, 2013.

II. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment

A. Legal standard

The role of summary judgment is “to pierce the pleadings and to, assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.” Mesnick v. Gen. Elec. Co., 950 F.2d 816, 822 (1st Cir.1991) (quoting Garside v. Osco Drug, Inc., 895 F.2d 46, 50 (1st Cir.1990)). The burden is on the moving party to show, through the pleadings, discovery and affidavits, “that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).

A fact is material if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A genuine issue of material fact exists where the evidence with respect to the material fact in dispute “is such that a reasonable jury could re[321]*321turn a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id.

If the moving party satisfies its burden, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine, triable issue. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The Court must view the entire record in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and make all reasonable inferences in that party’s favor. O’Connor v. Steeves, 994 F.2d 905, 907 (1st Cir.1993).

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999 F. Supp. 2d 318, 2014 WL 494803, 198 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2416, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14517, 97 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 45,005, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/angiuoni-v-town-of-billerica-mad-2014.